Celebrating 25 years, Pet Rock Fest is the largest event of its kind in the Northeast, an annual festival that promotes kindness to animals and responsible pet ownership. Pet Rock Fest, held in September each year, is a family festival that features guest speakers, vegetarian food, live music, games, events, a raffle, vendors, and hundreds of area animal welfare organizations.

Schedule of Events:

Stage One (the Music Stage):

Emcee: Peter “Zip” Zipfel

Noon: opening remarks – kicking off the festival
12:15 p.m: Jennifer Tefft and the Strange
1:15 p.m: Headliner Ricky Duran
2:15 p.m: Lee Totten
3:15 p.m: The Odd Couple
4:15-5 p.m: Office Party

Stage Two (The Animal Action Stage):

12:45 p.m: Annual Pet Rock Festival Hero Awards presentation
1:00 p.m: Animal Nonprofit Group Pet Parade
2:00 p.m: Amateur Dog Show
Prizes include medals, trophies and prizes from sponsors
2:00 p.m: Best Ears
2:15 p.m: Owner-Dog Look Alike
2:30 p.m: Waggiest Tail
2:45 p.m: Best Vocalist
3:00 p.m: Sweetest Face
3:30 p.m:  Drawing for the two lottery winners (each nonprofit receiving $500 from Pet Rock)

At The Information/Raffle Tent:

Cat Photo Contest sponsored by the Pet Barn, trophies and winners posted at the start of the festival, as this year, the contest is pre-judged by representatives from the Pet Barn. Winners receive gifts from the Pet Barn, and the top 3 are featured on a Pet Rock Fest drawstring bag!

Buy your official Pet Rock T-shirt

Sign up for the Dog Contest

Pick up information and pamphlets distributed by various animal organizations

The display of the Wall of Shame and Wall of Fame – check out the best and worst in animal news this year

Sign up for the Pet Rock email list

Take part in the raffle, which is called in three rounds at the information tent (check times for announcements): see below for updated list of raffle prizes.

More Ongoing Activities:

The Vegetarian Food Court is back, again hosted by VegFest! This food court, which is in addition to our standard vendors that serve fried dough, fries, pizza and wraps, includes vendors such as Not Ya Mamas Vegan Cafe, Keifer's Kettle Korn, NOURISH (the planet), Boundless Bakery, Wild Heart Bakery and more to be named.
Anzio's Pizza is returning, too, to serve up veggie and plain slices. This year, as with years past and forever more, don’t look for meat at this festival. Think about it, folks; We’re loving animals today.

Take Your Dog Through The Agility Course:  The Central Massachusetts Disaster Animal Response Team (CMDART) combines agility with an opportunity to learn about personal emergency preparedness for you and your pet. The agility try-it course has been a yearly feature of Pet Rock, where pet owners get a chance to see if “Mr. McMuggins and Henry Fluffers” might just be the next would-be agility champion. Agility is about teamwork and partnerships between you and your dog. Obstacles are placed in an orderly pattern to reach a goal, much the same as personal and community disaster planning.

CMDART agility volunteers offer participants a mini-training on how best to “take” an obstacle. You have to have a plan in agility, and you practice that in training. Attendees will get a chance to learn how to go over jumps, go through a hoop, a tunnel, and over teeters and makeshift dog walks. One hopes that you and your dog communicate effectively to reach the goal in the time allowed, or better. This is a good analogy for planning for disasters and particularly evacuations….you have a certain amount of time to get out with your pet and with all disasters, there will be multiple obstacles. Whether it's your family, a team, or your community; the more you practice an emergency plan, the more likely you will be to survive the disaster or emergency with the least amount of stress or trauma.

The agility try-it is an annual fun (d) raiser for CMDART which, as a private nonprofit disaster team, depends upon these events to aid their mission of helping pet owners during disasters. There is a requested minimum donation of $7 to get the mini-training.

Mass Vest-Dog K-9 demos: 1 and 3 p.m.

Pups in the Air Frisbee dog performances throughout the day.

Stitch roams the grounds, delighting kids and adults (and dogs) alike.

Juno's Place returns to Pet Rock Fest! Juno is an ambassador for animal welfare, known as “the little dog who does big things.” Juno's Place spreads awareness about various animal causes such as spay/neuter, working against breed specific legislation and promoting adoption. Juno visits with her snazzy sports cars and has amazing photo opportunities. She has a fan base of 150,000, so many just come to meet their Facebook hero. She has a few books out, and we will have them at the event at which she joins her whole "pack." At Pet Rock Fest, Juno's pack includes Sweetpea Friends for Rutland Animals, Paws 4 a Cure, Mass Vest-A-Dog. And next door, visit the amazing Burt's Brigade!

TidePool BookShop hosts the Pet Rock Book Nook with authors signing copies of their animal-themed books. Authors include Dr. Karen Fine and Loree Griffin Burns.

Dr. Fine is a holistic veterinarian who is fascinated by the relationships between animals and their people. She is an associ­ate veterinarian at Central Animal Hospital in Leominster, Mas­sachusetts. She sells and signs copies of her books, The Other Family Doctor: A Veterinarian Explores What Animals Can Teach Us About Love, Life, and Mortality and Narrative Medicine in Veterinary Practice.

Burns writes true stories for curious people of all ages, and she believes deeply in the twin joys of following one’s passion and finding one’s voice. Her books for children, which include Let's have a Mothball and the Hive Detective, have won many accolades, including American Library Association Notable designations, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book Award, an IRA Children’s Book Award, a Green Earth Book Award, and two Science Books & Films (SB&F) Prizes. Her essays for adults have been published in magazines like Yankee and honored in journals such as Flyway.

Animal Assisted Therapy Services conduct Canine Good Citizen tests. The AKC Canine Good Citizen test is regarded as the “gold standard” of dog obedience. In fact, some homeowners insurance companies will even offer a discount if the family’s dog has passed the AKC CGC. The CGC test involves 10 test items; all ten must be passed to receive your AKC certificate. Please visit the AaTs MA booth (look for the therapy dogs!) to take the CGC test. Walk-ups welcome. Test cost is $25 donation to AaTs MA. *AKC Tricks, CGCA, CGCU only offered if time allows*

Worcester Red Sox (WooSox) mascots Smiley Ball and Woofster hang out and play catch with fans of all ages and pose for photos, sell WooSox tickets and merchandise and pass out promotional items such as pens, pencils, squishy baseballs and more.

Dressed in animal costumes, McCoy's Action Karate puts on multiple demos throughout the day.

Mascot Arthur and cheerleaders from Mass Pirates Football will be on hand to interact, also hand out giveaways.

KBK Sports hosts a silent auction of jaw dropping sports memorabilia. The silent auction is packed with autographs & collectibles from the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins & Celtics with some other items from sports & entertainment greats! Auction will run at the festival from noon to 3 p.m. and auction winners will take items home that afternoon!

Face painting and other kids’ activities.

WCRN broadcasts live from the fest!

VCA Hospitals answer questions regarding your pet's wellness care through our “Ask the Vet” sessions. VCA also provides a free rabies clinic and low-cost microchipping.

Enter the Pet Rock Fest raffle, with tons of prizes that range from gift cards, to gift baskets to professional art work and tickets.

Date: September 10, 2023

Time: Noon - 5:00 p.m.

Location:

Scandinavian Athletic Club/SAC Park,
438 Lake Street,
Shrewsbury, MA 01545.

Click here for more information.